What 1,638 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

On February 3, Tuesday drove home from work. The battery light came on. I Drove to AutoZone and they placed it on Diagnostic reader. The diagnostic reader said that the battery had no charge. They told me I need a new battery. I replaced the battery. The next morning, I placed the jeep into auto start. So the Jeep can warm up. When I went outside, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the Jeep. I quickly turn off the Jeep and pop the hood. My husband open the hood and can see smoke coming from the alternator. He turned around to turn off his vehicle that was running. I started to video recording the incident and stopped it right away when I started to see flames coming out of the alternator. My husband and I quick action was to grab snow that was next to the Jeep to throw it onto the alternator to put the fire out. It took multiple piles of snow that the husband went and grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed the alternator to extinguish the fire. Once the fire was extinguished. We kept an eye out to make sure everything was good. We left the hood up to cool things down. We called morgan Towing to have the Jeep towed to their location to look at the situation. Morgan Towing picked the jeep up on February 4 Wednesday. They replaced the serpentine belt and the alternator. They called us to let us know the Jeep was done. Picked up the Jeep today, February 5 Thursday. I Drove it literally down the street and I can smell strong odor of smoke along with the battery light came back on. I turned back around and brought it back to Morgan Towing. I called my auto insurance and waiting to hear back from them. I am going to call the Dodge Jeep dealership and see what they have to say if if there’s was any recall on the Jeep. Upon my research so far, I didn’t see no recall but again I’m gonna call the dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11716050

Alternator caught fire

NHTSA ODI 11672100

The contact owned a 2011 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH around a bend in the roadway, the vehicle inadvertently lost all motive power. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle, leaving the road and coming to a complete stop after colliding with a barrier wall. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V813000 (Electrical System), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11576094

The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 30 MPH she observed that the check battery light had illuminated. The contact stated that his wife had smelled a burning smell and returned to the residence. The contact stated that he started the vehicle and was checking the battery using a volt meter and he noted that it was only showing 12.1 volts. The contact turned the vehicle off and was returning tools to his workshop when he noted a burning smell. The contact opened the hood and observed a stream of white smoke emitted from the alternator and suddenly the alternator had burst into flames. The contact stated that he extinguished the flame using a garden hose and disconnected the battery terminals due to a clicking sound he heard coming from the alternator. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact had removed the alternator and wanted it to be examined. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V435000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 197,000.

NHTSA ODI 11523882

Started vehicle and heard a bad grinding noise. Turned off vehicle, attempted to restart, failed to restart, and checked under hood and the alternator was so hot is was untouchable and smoking, had to disconnect battery to prevent fire. Leaving me stranded.

NHTSA ODI 11430168

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Alternator shorted and/or failed diode causing a fire under the hood. Started the vehicle and heard a strange noise from under the hood. Turned the vehicle off and opened the hood. Upon opening the hood smoke bellowed out. I could see an electrical component inside the alternator glowing red. The component glowed red and smoked until the battery was completely drained. While the vehicle didn't start on fire if it had this could have caused a large amount of damage as at the time of the incident the vehicle was parked inside a airport parking garage. Jeep has a recall for 2012 - 2014 models. The 2011 model year needs to be added to the recall. The failed alternator is available for inspection. Failed Component: Alternator, available for inspection Safety/Risk: Vehicle Fire Problem Confirmed By Dealer: Vehicle still in garage, to be towed 7/26/2021 Component Inspected: No Warnings: Unusual noise

NHTSA ODI 11426392

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNOCCUPIED, LOCKED, AND THE MOTOR WAS NOT RUNNING, APPARENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. I DID NOT SEE THE ACTUAL FLAMES, BUT I DID OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR TO FIND THE BOTTOM CUSHION AND MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THE DRIVER SEAT MELTED AND CHARRED AND A THICK LAYER OF SOOT ON EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11414521

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CATCHING ON FIRE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE AND IN NEED OF AT LEAST A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM, ALTERNATOR, AD BATTERY, ALONG WITH ANY REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS OF WIRES OR PARTS MELTED. IT ALL HAPPENED WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND MILES FROM HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE ON TIME AS WELL AS A FULL VEHICLE INSPECTIION JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS EARLIER. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 11407158

THE ROOF ON THE INSIDE OF MY 2011 GRAND JEEP CHEROKEE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SUN VISOR RECALL (RECALL R71) THE JOHN HIESTER DEALERSHIP IN SANFORD, NC HAD PREVIOUSLY FIXED TWICE. THEIR SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO PAY TO FIX THE ELECTRICAL FIRE DAMAGE BECAUSE IT WASN'T RELATED TO THE RECALL AND WASN'T A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. BASICALLY, THEY IMPLIED THAT I CAUGHT MY OWN VEHICLE ON FIRE & RISKED MY OWN LIFE & THE LIFE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN, WHICH IS CRAZY. SEE DETAILS BELOW: ON OCTOBER 23, 2020, I TOOK MY 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TO THE JOHN HIESTER CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM DEALERSHIP LOCATED ON HAWKINS AVENUE IN SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA, TO HAVE THE SUN VISOR WIRING RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL R71 REPLACED. PER THE ATTACHED INVOICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT AND LEFT SUN VISOR AND INSTALLED WIRE GUIDES AND GRIND RELIEFS. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:45 A.M. ON DECEMBER 9, 2020 (NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS LATER), FROM INSIDE OF THE HOUSE, AS USUAL, I USED THE CAR KEY TO AUTOMATICALLY START MY JEEP THAT WAS STATIONARY (SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY) SO THAT IT COULD WARM UP. WHEN MY GRANDCHILDREN AND I WALKED OUTSIDE TO GET INTO THE JEEP, I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE ON THE INSIDE, SO MUCH SO, THAT I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. UPON OPENING THE JEEP DOOR, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE. WITH THE DOORS OPENED, THE SMOKE FINALLY CLEARED, AND, IN HORROR, I SAW THAT THE ROOF ON THE INSIDE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY BURNED AND PAINT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ROOF HAD BUBBLED FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE A FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED THE INCIDENT TO THE RECALL THAT WAS REPAIRED ON OCTOBER 23, 2020 BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, I'D TRIED TO TURN ON THE VISOR LIGHT TO READ SOMETHING AND THE LIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. I MESSAGED THE JOHN HIESTER DEALERSHIP VIA ONLINE AROUND 7:30 A.M. FROM THERE, MY JEEP WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT STILL REMAINS UNREPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11385239

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON LEAVING WORK, SHE HAD NOTICED WHITE SMOKE HAD BEGUN TO EMIT FROM AROUND HER PASSENGER SUN VISOR WHICH HAD THEN LED TO A FIRE. THE CONTACT INITIALLY TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HERSELF; HOWEVER, THE FIRE GREW AFTER EACH ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THAT AUTHORITIES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AT THE SCENE AND WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11360236

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN HIS DRIVEWAY FROM A SHORT DISTANCE, THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT OVERFLOWED TO THE ALTERNATOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (VISION AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LOCATED AT 920 PANORAMA TRAIL S , ROCHESTER, NY 14625) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM FAILED CAUSING THE COOLANT TO OVERHEAT AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, THE DRAIN TUBE AND THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINEERING OF THE DRAIN TUBE FOR THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK WAS DESIGNED TO BE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ALTERNATOR AND IF THE COOLANT OVERFLOWS IT WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRIC ALTERNATOR CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF HE WOULD HAVE DROVE A LONG DISTANCE HIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA AND GET A SERVICE MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

NHTSA ODI 11339819

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, HOWEVER SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS MAKING THE TURN, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LIGHTENING BOLT (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL) WARNING LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT'S COMPANION OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE AND BURNT OUT COMPLETELY. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RIVER OAKS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (4807 KIRBY DR, HOUSTON, TX 77098) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ON-LINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V43500 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11328334

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE AS THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER SOME TIME, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO EASTCHESTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (4007 BOSTON RD, THE BRONX, NY 10466). THE DEALER INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. SEEKING A SECOND OPINION, THE CONTACT WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO THEN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPAIRED BY THE MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD BEEN PLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER :19V813000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS THAT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11328232

BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING SO I PULLED INTO NTB SERVICE CENTER. THEY IMMEDIATELY CHECKED MY VEHICLE AND SAID THAT MY ALTERNATOR WAS BURNING AND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NTB REPLACED ALTERNATOR THE NEXT DAY. *TR*DT

NHTSA ODI 11321293

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE DOWN A CITY STREET WHEN WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY CUT OFF. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AT ALL NOT EVEN HONK THE HORN TO LET OTHER DRIVER KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET FIXED THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEED A NEW TOTALLY INTERGRATED POWER MODULE

NHTSA ODI 11296637

MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON SO I PULLED OVER AT AN ADVANCED AUTO AND HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED. THIS WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK. THEY TESTED MY BATTERY AND SAID THE BATTERY THAT I HAD JUST REPLACE 3 MONTHS EARLIER HAD A BAD CELL. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? I HAD IT REPLACED AND THEN TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE TO TEST THE ALTERNATOR. AT THAT POINT MY ALTERNATOR STARTED SMOKING AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED. THEY SAID MY ALTERNATOR WASNT CHARGING ENOUGH AND IT NEEDED REPLACED. AT THIS POINT I HAD TO DISCONNECT MY BATTERY TO STOP THE ALTERNATOR FROM SMOKING. WHEN I DID THIS, MY BATTERY FELT UNUSUALLY HOT. GOT IT TESTED AND IT BLEW MY BATTERY. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR AND THEN THE STARTER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. I REPLACED THE STARTER AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE. THE STARTER WAS NOT GETTING ANY POWER. AS IM READING THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS SECTION THE ONLY TWO THINGS IT COULD BE IT SEEMS IS THE TIPM OR THE PCM. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. MAYBE COULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON JEEP AS IT SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT.

NHTSA ODI 11270921

OUR JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE CARPORT UNDER OUR HOME UNATTENDED AND UNPOWERED ON AUGUST 25 2018. THE 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WAS SERVICED BY THE SPITZER CHRYSLER JEEP DEALER IN HOMESTEAD FLORIDA ON AUGUST 22 2018 FOR RECALL R71/NHTSA 15V-879 PLUS TWO OTHER ITEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP LATE ON FRIDAY AUGUST 24 AND DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED UNTIL IT CAUGHT FIRE THE NEXT MORNING AROUND 1135. I HAD JUST WALKED PAST THE CAR AT AROUND 1130 AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. BY 1155 WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER OUR HOME AND I RUSHED DOWN TO FIND A BLAZING INFERNO. I CALLED 911 AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED FIGHTING THE FIRE TO PREVENT MY HOME FROM CATCHING FIRE AND BURNING DOWN. FIRE INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL, USAA INSURANCE FIRE INSPECTOR, FCA CHRYSLER FIRE INSPECTOR, AND ZURICH INSURANCE FIRE INSPECTOR. THE RECALL AND FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLY PROCESS. FCA CHRYSLER CHOOSE TO DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN BUILDING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND DEVELOPING A RECALL WHICH ONCE APPLIED MADE OUR VEHICLE MORE LIKELY TO CATCH FIRE. OUR GRAND CHEROKEE IS NOT THE ONLY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AFTER THE RECALL WAS APPLIED. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET WILL FIND OTHERS THAT HAVE BURNED POST RECALL. MY INSURANCE CARRIER RELAYED TO ME THAT ONE AGENT HAD ADVISED A FRIEND NOT THE HAVE THE RECALL DONE AS SOME CARS WERE BURNING POST RECALL. WHILE FCA CHRYSLER IS TRYING TO PLACE BLAME ON THE DEALER WHO APPLIED THE RECALL THE FACTS AND OTHER INSPECTIONS DO NOT SUPPORT THAT CONCLUSION. FCA CHRYSLER HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND CONSIDERS THE CASE CLOSED AS THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE FACED WITH ANOTHER 600,000 TO 700,000 VEHICLE RECALL JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OR DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. *DT*JB *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11265981

MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR DUE TO THE LISTED RECALL IN WHICH CHRYSLER HAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE! THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AGAIN FOR DIAGNOSES BECAUSE I AM SCARED FOR MY LIFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP! I WAS IN MOTION GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR IN THE FAST LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO REASON. THE JEEP SERVICE TECH HAS LINKED IT BACK TO THE SAME FUEL RELAY AND THIS COULD BE A FATAL PROBLEM IF NOT FIXED. PLEASE I HAVE THREE KIDS AND MYSELF THAT COULD BE INJURED IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED ASAP!!*DT*JB CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 188,723 2011 DODGE DURANGO AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUVS IN THE U.S. BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL-PUMP RELAY INSIDE THE POWER MODULE THAT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLES TO "STALL WITHOUT WARNING," ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE SUVS ARE EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 3.6-LITER V6 OR 5.7-LITER V8 ENGINE. "IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FUEL-PUMP RELAY INSIDE THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING," SAID NHTSA IN ITS SUMMARY OF THE PROBLEM. "A VEHICLE STALL INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH." THIS IS PART OF A GLOBAL RECALL OF AN ESTIMATED 230,760 CHRYSLER SUVS, INCLUDING 15,898 IN CANADA, 7,126 IN MEXICO AND 19,013 OUTSIDE THE NAFTA REGION. CHRYSLER SAID IT IS UNAWARE OF ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES LINKED TO THE RECALL. IT ADDED THAT NO OTHER VEHICLE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ARE AFFECTED BY THE FUEL-PUMP RELAY. THE AFFECTED SUVS WERE BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 2010 TO JULY 20, 2011. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-PUMP RELAY WITH ONE EXTERNAL TO THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 24. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.*DT*JB *DT

NHTSA ODI 11257777

WHILE DRIVING ON 376-E IN PITTSBURGH FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AT ABOUT 50-MPH, I SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR. THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE REPEATEDLY FLUCTUATED BETWEEN 198-250 DEGREES. AT TIMES ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, BUT TURN OFF AS TEMPERATURE WENT BELOW 230 DEGREES. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY PULLED OVER IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA NEAR MY HOME WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, VOLUMES OF SMOKE CAME OUT. AND, THERE APPEARED TO BE A SMALL FIRE INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR. I POURED 3 BOTTLES OF WATER ON THE VERY HOT ALTERNATOR TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CALLED AAA FOR A TOW, BUT AFTER 20 MINUTES THE ALTERNATOR STOPPED SMOKING. THERE IS A GOODYEAR REPAIR SHOP A BLOCK AWAY-- THE JEEP STARTED, SO I DROVE IT THERE. AND, CANCELED AAA. THE GOODYEAR CONCURRED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS TOTALLY FRIED, SO I HAD THEM REPLACE IT--($700, WILL PROVIDE RECEIPT IF YOU REQUIRE IT). AFTER REPLACING IT THE JEEP WOULD NOT START. I CALLED AAA AGAIN, AND HAD THEM TOW IT TO MY JEEP DEALERSHIP. TOLD THEM OF THE INCIDENT. NOW THEY ARE SAYING I NEED TO REPLACE THE POWERTRAIN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE--($1,000), THAT SHORTED OUT THE RESULT OF THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE. I NEED MY JEEP FOR WORK, THEY ARE REPLACING THE PTCM ON MONDAY. I'VE SEEN ALTERNATOR RECALLS FOR SOME 2011-2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES AND WRANGLERS. I BELIEVE MY JEEP GC SHOULD BE INCLUDED--#T36 AND #P60.

NHTSA ODI 11243026

I STARTED THE JEEP UP IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED A WHINING SOUND THAT CHANGED WITH ENGINE RPMS. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS ON THE DASH TO INDICATE A FAILURE OF ANY COMPONENTS. I ONLY HAD TO RUN TO THE STORE 4 MILES AWAY AND THOUGHT I WOULD LOOK AT IT WHEN I RETURNED HOME. ONCE I GOT TO THE STORE, I SMELT AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD, THE ALTERNATOR WAS PRODUCING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SMOKE. I WAS CONCERNED MY VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE. I HAD SOME ONE BRING ME SOME TOOLS SO I COULD DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. ONCE THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED, I LOCATED A REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR ($400) LOCALLY AT A PARTS STORE AS IT WAS A SUNDAY EVENING AND NO DEALERS WERE OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR IN THE STORE PARKING LOT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS, BUT WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD TO ENSURE ALL WAS GOOD WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR, IT WAS ONCE AGAIN SO HOT I COULD NOT TOUCH IT. THERE WAS NO SMOKE AS OF YET, BUT IT DOES SEEM THAT THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR TO CATCH FIRE. I AM SURE THE NEW ALTERNATOR WILL ALSO BE DAMAGED IF THE JEEP IS DRIVEN ANY MORE. CURRENTLY I AM FORCED TO LEAVE MY JEEP PARKED UNTIL I CAN ENSURE I HAVE AN EMERGENCY BACK UP AVAILABLE. THE JEEP DOES ACT NORMAL NOW THE ALTERNATOR IS CHANGED OUT, AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING AS NORMAL. I AM JUST CONCERNED THE NEW ALTERNATOR MAY FAIL AGAIN AND CAUSE A FIRE IN MY JEEP. NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR MY NORMAL COMMUTE. THE JEEP ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY OTHER ISSUES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE MANY TIME IS SEARCHES ONLINE AND FEEL THAT THERE ARE UNDERLYING CAUSES THAT CAN RESULT IN VEHICLE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE FIRES. EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO OPERATE IN THIS CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11164799

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK BATTERY SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CROSS CHRYSLER, 1501 GARDINER LN, LOUISVILLE KY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND DAMAGED THE PCM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V435000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,517. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11113093

SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11080833

WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY THE VEHICLE WITH HAVE POWER SURGES THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE STATIONARY THE TAILGATE WILL OPEN ON ITS OWN AND THE HORN WILL RANDOMLY START BLOWING. WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY THE VEHICLE WILL BLOW HEADLAMPS AND TAIL LAMPS. THE WIRES IN THE HEAD AND TAIL LAMPS HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND HAVE MELTED THE WIRES. YESTERDAY THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LAMP CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE CASING AND WIRES. THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY STALL AND SOMETIMES WON'T START.

NHTSA ODI 11016126

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SEVERAL TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN, AND THE PLASTIC BURNING ODOR WAS ALSO CAUSED BY THE FAILED ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V435000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 11005914

CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. COLLIDED WITH TREE, MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. NO POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED, SEAT BELTS DID NOT TENSION. VEHICLE HAD STALLED PREVIOUSLY AND TAKE TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COILS AND SAID PROBLEM WAS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 10960085